COLIN VALLON TRIO – Le VentECM 376 2782Colin Vallon (piano); Patrice Moret (double
bass); Julian Sartorius (drums)Recorded April 2013This is
pianist Vallon’s second album for ECM following on from Rruga that was recorded some three years earlier and whilst the
language remains the same Le Vent has
offer a whole new sound, and this can be attributed directly to the change of
drummer. Samuel Ruhrer who played on the debut album was much more explicit in his approach to metre
and the rhythmic propulsion that drove the music forward. In contrast, his
replacement, Julian Santorius brings a different sound and overall role for the
drums in the trios gently captivating music, making effective use of the
scraping of sticks on cymbals and other small gestures, sometimes playing
against the piano and bass who will stick to their prescribed roles until
common ground is found.Within the
music performed by the trio there is a great creative tension that Vallon
successfully resolves in each composition, with the pianist being fond of using
repetitive melodic riffs and ostinato. Much of the music is of a sedate tempo
allowing ideas to evolve gradually that reveal the internal logic of the
material and the way in which the musicians interact with each other in such an
intuitive manner. A fine example of this can be heard on ‘Rouge’ that slowly
and change as if by metamorphosis to become something new only for the process
to begin again.The title
track, ‘Le Vent’ is almost painstakingly compiled, gradually leading into an
ostinato from which the tension is yet further heightened, and not to be
relinquished until the final notes decay. By contrast, there is a nobility in
the progression of ‘Juuichi’ that suggests an original and new way of utilising
silence, space and movement.Two brief
pieces, both under the under two and a half minutes in duration, close the set.
Both are free improvisations by the trio with ‘Styx’ displaying a scintillating
three way dialogue, whilst ‘Coriolis' follows a more dissonant and out of tempo
route. All in all, Le Vent is a
satisfying listen, a truly collective effort with all three musicians
contributing to an imaginative and original album.Reviewed by Nick Lea